EVIDENCE BASED PRACTICE AND CLINICAL DECISION-MAKING 1

Evidence Based Practice and Clinical Decision-Making

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Evidence Based Practice and Clinical Decision-Making

Nursing practice is a sensitive profession that require the input of theoretical and

clinical expertise to ensure quality and safety of care. Decisions related to patient care must

therefore be based on the available evidence and healthcare provider must ensure that they

use the strongest form of evidence available to support their choice of care or action in form

of practice referred to as evidence-based practice (EBP). According to Grove, Gray, and

Burns (2015), EBP is a method used by healthcare professionals to apply science and

critically appraise evidence while providing quality and safe care to their patients. While

evidence is available in most nursing practice area, the quality and strength of this evidence

differ significantly.

When providing care, healthcare providers must ensure that they use the strongest

form of evidence to support their decisions. According to Grove, Gray, and Burns (2015),

EBP provides healthcare providers with scientific evidence and research that support well-

founded decisions. Evidence is widely categorized and it is upon healthcare providers to

understand this evidence and select the highest level to apply in decision-making. For

instance, randomized controlled trials are evidence in the highest levels, followed by cohort,

case-controls, and observational studies which are followed by clinical expert opinions, and

finally personal experiences. When presented with evidence on diabetes management through

personal experience and randomized controlled trails, it is rational for healthcare providers to

use evidence provided through randomized controlled trails as it is more reliable and based

on extensive sources of data. This choice is only possible if a nurse has a good understanding

of levels of evidence and their impact in clinical decision making.

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Reference

Grove, S. K., Gray, J. R., & Burns, N. (2015). Understanding nursing research: Building an

evidence-based practice (6th ed.). Elsevier.